Fiona, whose mum is from Forres, Moray, and Nicola, who was determined to be a cop despite her diminutive stature, were described as “wonderful human beings” and dedicated police officers.

Cregan also faces charges of murdering father and son David and Mark Short in separate gun and grenade attacks earlier this year and four attempted murders.

Yesterday, he scanned the courtroom and stared over at the public gallery, where relatives of the Short family were seated. One wore a sweatshirt with the slogan “RIP Mark” in blue letters and four pictures of the dead man.

Michelle Short, the wife of David Short and mother of Mark, was among the group.

Cregan sat down as he was brought into the dock but got to his feet after he was asked to stand by District Judge Jonathan Taaffe.

He yawned before the charges were put to him, and stood with his hands in front of his body. He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Armed police

Judge Taaffe then read out the eight charges the defendant faces, including that of murdering the two officers.

The double killing of the unarmed officers, shot as they responded to an apparently routine burglary call, provoked national shock and outrage.

Cregan was arrested a short time later after walking into Hyde Police Station two miles away.

He faces four further counts of attempted murder of three men and one woman.

The court heard the charges were so serious they could only be dealt with by law at a higher court and the case was automatically sent to Manchester Crown Court.

Cregan will appear there on Monday and there was no application for bail. “You will be remanded into custody until that time. Please go with the officers,” the judge told Cregan.

Mark Short died from a gunshot wound to his neck after a gunman entered a Tameside pub and opened fire on May 25.

Eleven weeks later, his father died in a grenade and gun attack on his home in Clayton, Manchester.

Policewomen killed on duty

As Cregan appeared in court, a steady stream of police officers laid floral tributes at the spot where the two WPCs died.

Forensic investigators continued to examine the crime scene and sniffer dogs were called in to join the operation.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police have been given more time to question a 28-year-old man, named by sources as Stephen Garvey.

Garvey has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the deaths of PC Bone and PC Hughes.

The police team’s permission to question him is due to expire at 9.15am today.